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Bankruptcy & Insolvency Bundle Software

Create professional bundles for creditor petitions, debtor petitions, IVA proposals, and annulment applications. Aligned with the Insolvency Rules 2016.

Every stop on the journey produces a real document — template, form or hearing bundle

What documents do I need for a bankruptcy petition?

A bankruptcy petition requires a completed petition form, statement of affairs listing all assets and liabilities, evidence of debt, and income/expenditure details. BundleCreator provides templates and organises these into a structured bundle — which must be compliant with the Insolvency Practice Direction.

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Insolvency Rules 2016
IVA Proposals
Court-Ready Bundles
Man sitting at his kitchen table reviewing a stack of creditor correspondence on his laptop, moving boxes packed on the floor beside him — preparing for an insolvency application

Your Bankruptcy & Insolvency Journey

Select your case stage

Each stop is a step in the journey. Larger ringed stops are hearings where you build a court bundle; smaller stops are forms, process steps, or court outcomes. Click any stop to see what it involves.

Creditor's Petition(Creditor Route)
Debtor's Own Petition(Debtor Route)
= Optional (does not always apply)
= Preparation or submission (no hearing)
iCreditor's PetitionCreditor RouteStat Demand21-Day ExpiryPetition FiledPetition ServedIVA Interim OrderIf neededNotice of OppositionIf neededDeposit PaidPetitionCounty Court / High Cour…Set Aside SDCounty Court / High CourtIf statutory demand disputedBankruptcy OrderStatement of AffairsOR AppointedDischargeOrder MadePick one or moreAnnulment HearingIf seeking annulmentAnnulment OrderAppealIf permission to appeal granted⚠ 21 daystyp. 1–4 wks⚠ 5 business days⚠ 14 d noticetyp. 8–12 wk⚠ 18 days⚠ 21 daystyp. 6–10 wk⚠ 12 monthsiDebtor's Own PetitionDebtor RouteOnline ApplicationDRO ApplicationDebtor's PetitionInsolvency Service (Adju…Adjudicator Ordertyp. 28 daystyp. 28 days
Lines:Creditor's PetitionDebtor's Own Petition
Stops:Bundle hearing — a court bundle is built hereProcess step — no bundle, just a procedural milestoneOptional step — dashed: not always applicable (e.g. only if needed or agreed)Form-filing endpoint — apply on a court form (warrant or enforcement)
Reading:Blog Insight — purple book icons link to a related article (opens in a new tab)
Timing:statutory — miss this and loserequired noticetypical wait
Laws:This journey summarises the procedure under Insolvency Act 1986 (as amended by the Enterprise Act 2002 and Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015), Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, Civil Procedure Rules — Insolvency Rules supplement (where applicable) and Bankruptcy Practice Direction (Practice Direction — Insolvency Proceedings). General information only — not legal advice.
© Steleo Publishing Ltd 2026. BundleCreator.co and the tube-map journey design are trade brands of Steleo Publishing Ltd.

Bankruptcy proceedings can be initiated by a creditor (creditor's petition) or by the debtor themselves (debtor's petition). Before a creditor can present a petition, they must first serve a statutory demand (Form SD1 or SD2) requiring payment of the debt within 21 days. The debt must be at least £5,000, be for a liquidated sum, and be undisputed. If the debtor fails to pay or apply to set aside the statutory demand within 18 days, the creditor may present a bankruptcy petition. Since April 2016, a debtor cannot petition the court directly for their own bankruptcy. Instead, they apply online through the Insolvency Service, which assigns an adjudicator to decide whether to make a bankruptcy order. Bankruptcy proceedings are governed by the Insolvency Act 1986, the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, and the Insolvency Practice Direction 2020 (3 July 2020). Hearings are heard in the County Court or the High Court (Business and Property Courts, Insolvency and Companies List). Alternatives to bankruptcy include Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), Debt Relief Orders (DROs for debts up to £50,000 — raised from £30,000 by the Insolvency (Amendment) Regulations 2024, in force 28 June 2024 — with assets under £2,000, vehicle under £4,000, and surplus income under £75/month), and informal negotiation with creditors.

Important: This journey map shows the typical stages of the relevant court or tribunal proceedings. It is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. For advice about your specific situation, consult a solicitor or instruct a barrister directly.

The law, court fees and time limits can change. We work hard to keep this map accurate, but it may contain errors or become out of date, so please check anything important against the official source — for example legislation.gov.uk or GOV.UK. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Steleo Publishing Limited does not accept liability for any loss arising from reliance on this map. Each stop represents a stage where a separate bundle may be required; BundleCreator handles the formatting — it does not replace professional legal advice.

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Quick Answer

A bankruptcy bundle typically includes the petition, statement of affairs, evidence of debts owed, income and expenditure schedules, and correspondence with creditors or the Official Receiver. BundleCreator is online court bundle software that organises these into properly indexed sections under the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016.

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026 by Stevie Hayes

Bankruptcy and Insolvency Court Bundle UK: In Brief

An English and Welsh bankruptcy court bundle is the agreed collection of documents filed at the County Court hearing centre with insolvency jurisdiction or at the Insolvency and Companies Court at the Rolls Building. Proceedings run under the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016. Bundles for creditor's petitions, statutory demand set-aside applications, IVA challenge applications under s.262, and annulment hearings follow the Insolvency Practice Direction (July 2020).

Key forms
Form Bankruptcy 1 (creditor's petition under IR 2016), Form Bankruptcy 4 / online Adjudicator application (debtor route, IA 1986 s.263H), Form 7.1A (statutory demand), Statement of Affairs (IR 2016 r.10.55)
Statutory demand window
21 days from service to comply or apply to set aside
Petition cost
Bankruptcy petition court fee plus £680 deposit payable to the Official Receiver — verify current figures on the gov.uk EX50 schedule
Court / venue
County Court hearing centre with insolvency jurisdiction; Insolvency and Companies Court at the Rolls Building for higher-value claims
Bundle size
Insolvency Practice Direction expects focused, paginated bundles; up to 1,000 pages supported

Official guidance: Insolvency Practice Direction (July 2020) — gov.uk

UK personal insolvency key facts, 2026

Primary UK references on bankruptcy, IVAs, DROs, and statutory demands.

StatValueSource
Governing statuteInsolvency Act 1986 + Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016Insolvency Act 1986
Debtor's bankruptcy application — fees£680 (£130 adjudicator + £550 OR deposit), online via GOV.UKGOV.UK Apply for bankruptcy
Creditor petition — minimum debt£5,000 (single creditor)Section 267, Insolvency Act 1986
Statutory demand — corporate threshold£750+ debt; 21 days to pay before winding-up petitionSections 122-123, Insolvency Act 1986
Bankruptcy durationAutomatic discharge at 12 monthsSection 279, Insolvency Act 1986
IVA — proposal threshold75% of creditors by value must approve at meetingPart VIII, Insolvency Act 1986
Debt Relief Order — eligibilityTotal debts ≤£30,000; assets ≤£2,000; surplus income ≤£75/monthSections 251A-251X, Insolvency Act 1986
100,000+

Individual insolvencies per year

Over 100,000 individual insolvencies are recorded annually in England and Wales, including bankruptcies, IVAs, and DROs.

Source: Insolvency Service Official Statistics, 2024

£5,000

Minimum bankruptcy debt

A creditor may present a bankruptcy petition only where the debt owed, or sum of debts owed, is £5,000 or more.

Source: Insolvency Act 1986, section 267(4)

Section 283

Bankrupt's estate

On the making of a bankruptcy order, the bankrupt's estate vests automatically in the trustee in bankruptcy under section 306 of the Insolvency Act 1986.

Source: Insolvency Act 1986, sections 283 and 306

Built for Insolvency Practitioners

Features designed for bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings

Document Templates

Pre-built templates for creditor petitions, debtor petitions, IVA proposals, and annulment applications.

Aligned with the Insolvency Rules

Bundles formatted to comply with the Insolvency Rules 2016 and Practice Direction: Insolvency Proceedings.

Statement of Affairs Builder

Structured templates for completing the statement of affairs with all required asset and liability details.

Creditor Schedule

Organise creditor claims, proof of debt forms, and voting rights for creditor meetings.

IVA Proposal Drafting

Template-guided IVA proposals with income/expenditure schedules and repayment plans.

Court-Ready Bundles

Export paginated, indexed bundles ready for filing at the Insolvency and Companies Court.

Understanding Bankruptcy Bundles

Everything you need to know about insolvency case bundles

Bankruptcy Proceedings in England and Wales

Bankruptcy is a formal insolvency process for individuals who cannot pay their debts. A bankruptcy petition can be presented by the debtor themselves or by a creditor owed at least £5,000.

Once a bankruptcy order is made, the Official Receiver takes control of the bankrupt's assets. Discharge is typically automatic after 12 months under the Enterprise Act 2002.

Alternatives to Bankruptcy

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) allows a debtor to reach a binding agreement with creditors to repay debts over a fixed period, typically five years, whilst retaining assets such as the family home.

Debt Relief Orders (DROs) are available for individuals with debts under £30,000 and minimal assets. They provide a 12-month moratorium after which qualifying debts are written off.

What Goes in a Bankruptcy Bundle?

A bankruptcy bundle should contain all documents relevant to the petition and the administration of the estate.

  • Statement of affairs listing all assets, liabilities, and creditors
  • Bankruptcy petition (creditor or debtor form)
  • Evidence of debt (invoices, demands, statutory demands)
  • Income and expenditure statement
  • Correspondence with creditors and the Official Receiver
  • IVA proposal or modification documents (if applicable)

Insolvency Bundle Templates

Choose the template for your proceeding type

Creditor Petition Bundle

4 sections -- statutory demand, petition, evidence of debt, supporting documents

Debtor Petition Bundle

4 sections -- petition, statement of affairs, income/expenditure, supporting evidence

IVA Proposal Bundle

5 sections -- proposal, income schedule, creditor list, supervisor's report, modifications

Annulment Application Bundle

4 sections -- application, evidence of payment, creditor consent, court order

Income Payments Order Bundle

4 sections -- application, income evidence, expenditure schedule, Official Receiver's report

Public Examination Bundle

5 sections -- court order, statements, accounts, correspondence, Official Receiver's report

Manual Bundling vs Insolvency Bundle Creator

See how BundleCreator streamlines insolvency bundle preparation

FeatureManual BundlingBundleCreator
PD27A format checks
Automatic pagination
Index generation
Time to prepare bundle
4-8 hours
30-60 mins
PDF compression
Secure document storage
Template guidance
Error reduction
alignment with the Insolvency Rules 2016
Automatic consecutive pagination
Statement of affairs template
Creditor schedule generation
Time to prepare
4+ hours
Under 30 mins

Guides & Articles

Bankruptcy Restrictions Orders and Undertakings: Defending the BRO/BRU

Defending a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order (BRO) or Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking (BRU) under section 281A and Schedule 4A of the Insolvency Act 1986. The 2-15 year period bands, defence strategies, BRU negotiation, and bundle preparation for the contested hearing.

13 min read

Income Payments Orders and Agreements (IPO/IPA) After Bankruptcy

How Income Payments Orders and Agreements work under sections 310 and 310A of the Insolvency Act 1986. Surplus income calculation, the 50/50 split, the 36-month maximum period, variation, and what happens at discharge.

14 min read

Asset Disclosure in Bankruptcy: What the Official Receiver Asks For

The duty to disclose assets in bankruptcy under section 333 of the Insolvency Act 1986. What the Statement of Affairs covers, what the OR cross-checks against, special-category assets (pensions, matrimonial home, cryptocurrency), and the criminal consequences of concealment under sections 354-358.

14 min read

Bankruptcy Petition vs Debt Relief Order: How to Choose in 2026

Compare bankruptcy and Debt Relief Orders side by side: thresholds, fees, what happens to your home, jobs, bank accounts. Which route fits your debt level, assets and income.

14 min read

How to Apply for Your Own Bankruptcy: 2026 Online Application Walkthrough

Step-by-step guide to applying for your own bankruptcy at gov.uk: the £680 fee, what documents you need, the 13 sections of the online form, what happens after submission.

13 min read

Setting Aside a Statutory Demand: 2026 Defence Guide

Defending a statutory demand under Insolvency Rules 2016: the four grounds, the 18-day deadline, what to file, what the witness statement needs, and how the hearing works.

14 min read

Bankruptcy & Insolvency FAQs

Common questions about insolvency proceedings

BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template handles bankruptcy petition responses, statutory demand set-aside applications, IVA hearings, annulment applications, and Statement of Affairs preparation. The bundle is paginated continuously, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index, and bookmarked at section and document level — ready for the County Court hearing centre with insolvency jurisdiction, or the Insolvency and Companies Court at the Rolls Building for higher-value London matters. From £19.99 a month with no per-bundle fee.

BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template structures a debtor response bundle: the creditor's petition, statutory demand and any prior correspondence, the debtor's witness statement and exhibits, evidence of any cross-claim or set-off relied on, evidence of substantial dispute on the underlying debt where relevant, and authorities. The output is paginated continuously, OCR'd, and bookmarked for the hearing — aligned with the Insolvency Practice Direction's procedural requirements.

Under Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, r.10.4(1), an application to set aside a statutory demand must be filed within 18 days of the demand being served. BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template includes a set-aside application slot: the application notice (per r.10.4), the witness statement supporting one or more of the r.10.5(5) grounds (genuine cross-claim, substantial dispute on the debt, defective demand, or security equal to or exceeding the claim), the demand itself, and any supporting evidence. See [Setting Aside a Statutory Demand: 2026 Defence Guide](/blog/setting-aside-statutory-demand-insolvency-rules-2016).

Annulment under section 282 of the Insolvency Act 1986 requires either that the order should not have been made (section 282(1)(a)) or that the bankruptcy debts and costs have been paid or secured (section 282(1)(b)). BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template orders the annulment bundle: the application notice, supporting witness statement, evidence of payment or settlement of all debts (282(1)(b) cases), or evidence of the procedural defect (282(1)(a) cases), trustee's report, and authorities. Paginated and bookmarked for the County Court or ICC.

BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template handles Statement of Affairs preparation for the Official Receiver interview and any contested hearing: the SoA itself with full creditor list and asset disclosure, supporting bank statements (typically 12 months), payslips or self-employment accounts, mortgage statements, vehicle valuations, and pension scheme paperwork. Paginated, OCR'd, and bookmarked so the Official Receiver can navigate efficiently.

BundleCreator runs on Google Cloud's London region (europe-west2) — primary storage, backups, and processing all in the UK. AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit. Bank statements, source-of-funds evidence, asset disclosures, and creditor correspondence stay within UK borders, removing UK GDPR Article 44 transfer concerns and aligning with the solicitors' professional duty of confidentiality.

Trustee recovery actions under the Insolvency Act 1986 — transactions at undervalue (s.339), preferences (s.340), and transactions defrauding creditors (s.423) — need: the trustee's claim form and particulars, the bankrupt's Statement of Affairs, the impugned transaction documents, evidence of the recipient's relationship to the bankrupt and knowledge of insolvency, and authorities. BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template orders these for the County Court or ICC with pagination, OCR, hyperlinked index, and section bookmarks.

BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template is built for litigants in person responding to creditor petitions. Upload the creditor's petition, the statutory demand if served, the underlying contract or debt instrument, your witness statement explaining the dispute, evidence of any payments made, evidence of any cross-claim, and any prior correspondence. The tool produces a paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index bundle you can file electronically or print for the hearing.

Still have questions? Contact our team

BundleCreator helps you prepare and organise documents for court and tribunal hearings. We are not a law firm and we do not give legal advice. Wherever you can, please get advice from a qualified legal adviser before your hearing. Read more

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best bundle tool for a personal bankruptcy hearing?

BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template handles bankruptcy petition responses, statutory demand set-aside applications, IVA hearings, annulment applications, and Statement of Affairs preparation. The bundle is paginated continuously, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index, and bookmarked at section and document level — ready for the County Court hearing centre with insolvency jurisdiction, or the Insolvency and Companies Court at the Rolls Building for higher-value London matters. From £19.99 a month with no per-bundle fee.

How do I prepare a bankruptcy petition hearing bundle for a debtor response?

BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template structures a debtor response bundle: the creditor's petition, statutory demand and any prior correspondence, the debtor's witness statement and exhibits, evidence of any cross-claim or set-off relied on, evidence of substantial dispute on the underlying debt where relevant, and authorities. The output is paginated continuously, OCR'd, and bookmarked for the hearing — aligned with the Insolvency Practice Direction's procedural requirements.

How do I respond to a statutory demand within the 18-day deadline?

Under Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, r.10.4(1), an application to set aside a statutory demand must be filed within 18 days of the demand being served. BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template includes a set-aside application slot: the application notice (per r.10.4), the witness statement supporting one or more of the r.10.5(5) grounds (genuine cross-claim, substantial dispute on the debt, defective demand, or security equal to or exceeding the claim), the demand itself, and any supporting evidence. See [Setting Aside a Statutory Demand: 2026 Defence Guide](/blog/setting-aside-statutory-demand-insolvency-rules-2016).

How do I prepare an annulment of bankruptcy order application bundle?

Annulment under section 282 of the Insolvency Act 1986 requires either that the order should not have been made (section 282(1)(a)) or that the bankruptcy debts and costs have been paid or secured (section 282(1)(b)). BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template orders the annulment bundle: the application notice, supporting witness statement, evidence of payment or settlement of all debts (282(1)(b) cases), or evidence of the procedural defect (282(1)(a) cases), trustee's report, and authorities. Paginated and bookmarked for the County Court or ICC.

How do I prepare a Statement of Affairs (SoA) bundle for a creditor petition response?

BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template handles Statement of Affairs preparation for the Official Receiver interview and any contested hearing: the SoA itself with full creditor list and asset disclosure, supporting bank statements (typically 12 months), payslips or self-employment accounts, mortgage statements, vehicle valuations, and pension scheme paperwork. Paginated, OCR'd, and bookmarked so the Official Receiver can navigate efficiently.

Is there a UK-hosted bankruptcy bundle tool — financial information confidential?

BundleCreator runs on Google Cloud's London region (europe-west2) — primary storage, backups, and processing all in the UK. AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit. Bank statements, source-of-funds evidence, asset disclosures, and creditor correspondence stay within UK borders, removing UK GDPR Article 44 transfer concerns and aligning with the solicitors' professional duty of confidentiality.

How do I prepare a trustee in bankruptcy litigation bundle for recovery action?

Trustee recovery actions under the Insolvency Act 1986 — transactions at undervalue (s.339), preferences (s.340), and transactions defrauding creditors (s.423) — need: the trustee's claim form and particulars, the bankrupt's Statement of Affairs, the impugned transaction documents, evidence of the recipient's relationship to the bankrupt and knowledge of insolvency, and authorities. BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template orders these for the County Court or ICC with pagination, OCR, hyperlinked index, and section bookmarks.

How do I prepare a creditor petition response bundle as a litigant in person?

BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template is built for litigants in person responding to creditor petitions. Upload the creditor's petition, the statutory demand if served, the underlying contract or debt instrument, your witness statement explaining the dispute, evidence of any payments made, evidence of any cross-claim, and any prior correspondence. The tool produces a paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index bundle you can file electronically or print for the hearing.

Built by Stevie Hayes, a Governance, Risk and Compliance specialist who spent five years in the UK Family Court system. Published October 2025 · Last updated 26 April 2026.

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